Single (circle) hook information resources

This page provides links to information sources worldwide on single (circle) hook research, studies, and jurisdictions where fishing regulations require their use. Help us develop this as an authoritative information source for recreational anglers and commercial sea fisheries alike.

Recreational angling  - single hooks

USA:

Peer-reviewed studies - barbless single hooks for wild salmonid conservation

Circle hooks

International:

• Circle hooks in the pacific - a look at their history, commercial fisheries' evolution and today's conservation role
• Circle/J-hook influence on hooking location of line-caught Yellowfin-Bream

USA:

• Circle and J-hook performance comparison in the recreational shark fishery off Maryland
• Performance of circle hooks in a mixed-species recreational fisher
• Summary of circle hooks studies on various fish species

Single (circle) hook regulations

• British Columbia Government - freshwater salmonid angling regulations
• International Game Fish Association - International Angling Rules 2017
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Reef Fish Gear Rules
• Reef fish, Gulf of Mexico Regulations 2008
• 2016 Compliance Guide for Maine DMR Halibut Regulations

Recreational angling catch and release guidance

Australia:

• NSW Government - circle hooks: benefits & tips
• NSW Government - catch and release handbook

UK:

• The Shark Trust - Anglers Code of Conduct
• Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network – Small Shark Handling Code of Practice
• Scottish Shark Tagging Programme UK – Shark Handling Code of Practice

(Northern) Ireland:

• Northern Ireland Government: Angling Regulations
• Countryside Alliance Ireland

USA:

• U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration - preserving big game fish by using circle hooks
• State of Rhode Island, Department of Environmental Management
• New Hampshire - Fish and Game Department - Circle hooks reduce catch an release mortality
• U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - shark fishing
• Native Fish Society - Keep Em' Wet Initiaitive 

Canada:

• Atlantic Salmon Federation: voluntarily release all salmon
• Atlantic Salmon Federation - video: live release of wild atlantic salmon
• British Columbia Government - freshwater salmonid angling regulations
• British Columbia Government - White Sturgeon Guidelines

International:

• North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization - Catch and release

Commercial sea fishery circle hook by-catch initiatives

• WWF - Circle hooks to reduce by-catch without affecting target species
• WWF and IATTC - Bycatch Initiative: Eastern Pacific Programme
• ISSF - The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation's' conservation measure 3.6: ‘Transactions with vessels implementing best practices for sharks and sea turtles’
• (whilst circle hooks are not specifically referenced, their use is consistent with UN-Sustainable Development Goal 14 – ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development’